"Around the weekends, he's always passed out sleeping," Eric says.
"This is just normal for me," says Eric's dad and coach.
Normal or not, the time and energy spent no doubt take their toll, but Coach Eberhart could care less about that. He realizes how precious his children are, and just how fleeting time is.
"It means everything to me," he says. "I realize it doesn't last forever."
The assistant coach, his left fielder and the rest of the Major Softball team will return soon from their venture to Washington and the Western Regional. Then there will be a few weeks before football practices get rolling again and, soon enough, the season. The running around and balancing of schedules will ease up as much as a high school football coach and father of three's schedule can.
And soon, he'll have homecomings, the Pacific League, crosstown rivalries and CIF playoffs to worry about once again.
He's a coach through and through. Whether it's in a lawn chair, on the sideline of a football field or in the dugout of a softball diamond. It's what he likes to do, that's why he's a coach.
And soon, Eric will graduate, Ryan will be a varsity football player and Jordan will be in high school.
And soon … well, life moves on and Eberhart, the father, obviously knows that all too well.
He's a dad through and through. Whether it's at his home, on the sideline of a football field or in the dugout of a softball diamond. It's what he loves to do, that's why he's a family man.
"It'll mean a lot more when it's all done," Eberhart understands. "I love to watch them play. As I get to watch their friends play, I love to watch them, too.
"I don't want to miss this, I've been lucky so far."
Edgar Melik-Stepanyan contributed to this story.
Grant Gordon can be reached at (818) 637-3225 or by e-mail at grant.gordon@latimes.com
